On April 3rd, Rong Bao Zhai Guangzhou held an international exchange event titled "Flower Festival Elegant Gathering" to share traditional Chinese culture. The event featured various traditional elegant activities such as flower arrangement, incense burning, tea whisking, and painting appreciation, seamlessly integrating traditional culture into daily life. Consular officials and their families from 16 countries stationed in Guangzhou attended the event, experiencing the beauty of Chinese traditional arts and intangible cultural heritage up close.

During the event, several inheritors of intangible cultural heritage projects shared their insights into Chinese lifestyle aesthetics. Sun Ke, an inheritor of traditional floral arrangement, introduced the artistic essence of Chinese flower arrangement to the guests.

The Consul General of Peru in Guangzhou, Ruben Espinoza, attentively scrutinized the demonstrations and said, "The inheritor Sun introduced us to the various steps of flower arrangement and presented exquisitely decorated vases. The intricate fingertip craftsmanship is truly remarkable." He was enthralled by the allure of Chinese festive customs and looked forward to engaging in activities promoting Chinese intangible cultural heritage.

The Consul General of Zambia in Guangzhou, Daniel Chisenga, praised the exquisite stationery and books displayed at the event, all printed using a unique technique called Rong Bao Zhai woodblock watermark that is considered a national-level intangible cultural heritage method. He also tried his hand at creating traditional Chinese painting patterns, such as pandas, using colors like vermilion and indigo.

Muhammad Irfan, the Commercial Counsellor of Pakistan in Guangzhou, together with his wife and children, also experienced the art of woodblock watermark. He said that this skill provided people with an insight into Chinese painting and the traditional culture it represents.

During the gathering, the "Sculpting Textile - Xiangyunsha Spring-Summer Fashion Show", organized by Rong Bao Zhai and Rechenberg Studio, kicked off in the gallery, where models showcased modern clothing made from Xiangyunsha fabric that blended traditional culture with contemporary fashion.

Xiangyunsha, also known as gambiered Guangdong gauze and produced in Shunde, Foshan, Guangdong, is the only silk fabric in the world dyed with pure plant-based dyes, earning it the epithet "soft gold" in the textile industry. Xiangyunsha and its dyeing and finishing techniques are classified as national-level intangible cultural heritage.

"As a cultural carrier, Xiangyunsha can blend seamlessly into modern environments. It is comfortable and healthy to wear, and can be made into beautiful and contemporary clothing. Today, whether in the East or the West, natural and eco-friendly materials have emerged as important criteria for clothing choices, and Xiangyunsha boasts advantages in this aspect." Kathrin von Rechenberg, a German fashion designer, still vividly recalls, "When I came to China 20 years ago, I fell in love with Chinese fabric materials. It was because of Xiangyunsha that I developed an affection for China and decided to stay here."

In recent years, Rong Bao Zhai, a century-old artwork store, has actively integrated itself into the cultural development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It has held numerous cultural exchange activities in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, where audiences from home and abroad can gain insights into Chinese traditional culture and appreciate its ancient charm, uniqueness, and elegance through various exhibitions and experiential programs.

Source:Yangcheng Evening News

领事拾遗｜16个国家驻穗领事馆官员体验岭南非遗

4月3日，荣宝斋广州举办 “花朝雅集”传统文化国际交流活动，汇集多项传统雅事——插花、焚香、点茶、赏画等，让传统文化融入日常生活场景。来自16个国家的驻穗领事官员及其家属莅临现场，近距离感受中国传统艺术与非遗之美。

现场，多位非物质文化遗产项目传承人分享中式生活美学。传统插花传承人孙可向来宾介绍了中国插花的艺术性。

秘鲁总领事鲁本·埃斯皮诺萨·雷蒙迪在现场细细观摩，并说道：“传承人向我们介绍了插花的几个步骤，也展示了带有精致纹饰的花瓶，这些指尖上的工艺让人惊叹。”他在活动中感受到中国节庆民俗的魅力，期待未来有机会参与更多推广中国非遗文化的活动。

赞比亚总领事丹尼尔·穆弗拉·施穆恩扎欣赏了现场陈设的精美信笺、书籍，这些都是以国家级非遗项目荣宝斋木版水印技艺印制。他还学着用朱红、青墨等颜色拓出了熊猫等中国传统绘画图案。

巴基斯坦商务领事穆罕默德·伊姆兰也和夫人、孩子一起，体验了木版水印非遗技艺。他表示，通过这门技艺，人们可以了解中国画及其背后代表的中国传统文化。

雅集期间，由荣宝斋与瑞星博（Rechenberg）工作室主办的“雕塑的面料——香云纱春夏秀”在画廊上演。模特们身穿由香云纱制成的现代服装，兼具传统文化魅力和现代时尚气息。

香云纱，产于广东佛山顺德，是世界纺织品中唯一用纯植物染料染色的丝绸面料，被纺织界誉为 “软黄金”。香云纱及其染整技艺，属国家级非物质文化遗产。

“作为一种文化载体，香云纱能够很好地融入现代环境。它穿起来很舒服很健康，也可以做得很漂亮很现代。当今，不管在东方还是在西方，天然环保都已经是人们对服装材料选择的重要标准，香云纱在这个方面天然具有优势。”直到今日，来自德国的香云纱服装设计师凯瑟琳·冯·瑞星博仍清晰记得，“20年前来到中国的时候，我就特别喜欢中国的面料材质，因为香云纱，我爱上了中国，并留在了这里。”

近年来，百年老店荣宝斋主动融入粤港澳大湾区文化建设，先后在广州、深圳举办多场海内外文化交流活动。海内外的观众可以通过各种展览和体验环节，了解中国传统文化，领悟中式美学之古趣、奇趣、雅趣。

文｜记者 梁善茵 周欣怡
图｜记者 钟振彬
译 | 陈萱